Leesburg High School Alumni
Leesburg, Florida (FL)
Recent Members
| Aldanzo Pratt Aldanzo Pratt | 1972 |
| Anthoney Harmon | 1991 |
| Brenda Brenda Grubb | 1971 |
| Christine Hoop | 1993 |
| Dana Powell | 1977 |
| Derrick Carl Dickens Dickens | 1982 |
| Joseph Witter Joseph C Witter | 1974 |
| Samanatha Futch | 2020 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Leesburg High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Yellow Jackets lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
David E. Denson
Class of 1959
Army, 3 Years
Served 2.5 years in the Army Security Agency in Germany.
Class of 1959
Army, 3 Years
Served 2.5 years in the Army Security Agency in Germany.
Derek Cooper
Class of 1985
Marine Corps, 29 Years
Joined Marine Corps in 1989, served in 3 wars. Still serving at 29 years currently in Quantico.
Class of 1985
Marine Corps, 29 Years
Joined Marine Corps in 1989, served in 3 wars. Still serving at 29 years currently in Quantico.
DON CHANDLER
Class of 1971
Navy, 12 Years
I joined the Navy in 1970 and was stationed on board the USS Nautilus SSN 571, an SSBN, a destroyer, aircraft carrier and finally at the Pentagon. I was both a Yeoman first class as well as an Operations Specialist first class. I'll upload some pictures later.
Class of 1971
Navy, 12 Years
I joined the Navy in 1970 and was stationed on board the USS Nautilus SSN 571, an SSBN, a destroyer, aircraft carrier and finally at the Pentagon. I was both a Yeoman first class as well as an Operations Specialist first class. I'll upload some pictures later.
Fred Winchell
Class of 1991
Air Force, 6 Years
US Air Force Europe. 352nd Special Operations Group. 352nd SOCCE
Class of 1991
Air Force, 6 Years
US Air Force Europe. 352nd Special Operations Group. 352nd SOCCE
James Irwin
Class of 1996
Army, 14 Years
Graduated and entered the Army. I am currently a Sergeant First Class (E7) and am stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan for a 365 day tour of which will end near the end of the 2010 summer.
Class of 1996
Army, 14 Years
Graduated and entered the Army. I am currently a Sergeant First Class (E7) and am stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan for a 365 day tour of which will end near the end of the 2010 summer.
John Knott
Class of 1983
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired in 2006 after 22 years of service, now living in the Dallas/ Ft Worth
Class of 1983
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired in 2006 after 22 years of service, now living in the Dallas/ Ft Worth
Ken Enloe
Class of 1974
Navy, 20+ Years
Yeoman First Class at retirement. 20 years.
Class of 1974
Navy, 20+ Years
Yeoman First Class at retirement. 20 years.
Keturah A. Roberts
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
First Sergeant, retired after serving 29 years of services.
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
First Sergeant, retired after serving 29 years of services.
Leegardias A Thomas
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Chief Cook,Cpl USMC, ARMY,Staff Logistic NCOIC,SFC
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Chief Cook,Cpl USMC, ARMY,Staff Logistic NCOIC,SFC
Marcia Shaw Tevepaugh Marple
Class of 1982
Marine Corps, 6 Years
Stationed at Camp Lejeune HqBn then to Okinawa Japan 85-86, then back to Camp Lejeune before getting out in 1988.
Class of 1982
Marine Corps, 6 Years
Stationed at Camp Lejeune HqBn then to Okinawa Japan 85-86, then back to Camp Lejeune before getting out in 1988.
Marianne J. Walker
Class of 1976
Air Force, 6 Years
Served as a linguist in the US Air Force from 1977-1983 and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany.
Class of 1976
Air Force, 6 Years
Served as a linguist in the US Air Force from 1977-1983 and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany.
ROBERT A. SMITH
Class of 1955
Air Force, 20+ Years
SERVED FROM 1955 TO 1976. COMBATN VETERAN INVIET NAM. RE4TIRED AS MSGT, (E-7) ELECTRONIC ARFARE /SUPERVISOR AND ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE SUPERVISOR
Class of 1955
Air Force, 20+ Years
SERVED FROM 1955 TO 1976. COMBATN VETERAN INVIET NAM. RE4TIRED AS MSGT, (E-7) ELECTRONIC ARFARE /SUPERVISOR AND ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE SUPERVISOR
Robert Farley
Class of 1990
Army, 10 Years
Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic
Served in Germany, Bosnia, Fort Hood, TX, South Korea.
Class of 1990
Army, 10 Years
Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic
Served in Germany, Bosnia, Fort Hood, TX, South Korea.
Robert Jackson
Class of 1959
Air Force, 20+ Years
Service description
NUCLEAR, Bio,Chem and Conventional Munitions Expert. Personnel NCOIC, Group Headquarters Squardron First. Master Missile on eight Missile system. Special Operation assignments to Rep of Korea, Rep of Viet Nam, Johnston Island and the Italian Air Force. Advisor to the Maine and Minnesota ANG.
Class of 1959
Air Force, 20+ Years
Service description
NUCLEAR, Bio,Chem and Conventional Munitions Expert. Personnel NCOIC, Group Headquarters Squardron First. Master Missile on eight Missile system. Special Operation assignments to Rep of Korea, Rep of Viet Nam, Johnston Island and the Italian Air Force. Advisor to the Maine and Minnesota ANG.
Roberto Luis Burrows
Class of 1973
Army, 20+ Years
Proudly served his country and fought in several wars including Vietnam and Desert Storm. He died while serving on Active Duty in Seoul, Korea. He died a Sgt. Major and was 2 weeks shy of being promoted and returning to the United States to be stationed in Texas. He left behind two daughters, Traci and Maile Burrows.
Class of 1973
Army, 20+ Years
Proudly served his country and fought in several wars including Vietnam and Desert Storm. He died while serving on Active Duty in Seoul, Korea. He died a Sgt. Major and was 2 weeks shy of being promoted and returning to the United States to be stationed in Texas. He left behind two daughters, Traci and Maile Burrows.
SSgt Michael A Bock
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 8 Years
After completing his role in the Movie “Flag of Our Fathers” Mike first joined the Marine Corps’ ABV program in June of 2006. He was one of approximately 20 Marines that were initially trained to take the ABV through Field Users Test & Evaluation (FUT&E), and Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E). Upon the ABV's successful completion of these two significant milestones, Mike was ordered back to Fort Knox, Kentucky to participate in Instructor & Key Personnel Training (IKPT) to help validate the lesson plans for future ABV Crewman. Following the completion of IKPT, Mike was among the first four Marines to earn the coveted 1372 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of ABV Operator. Mike was in such high demand because he was so skilled at operating and maintaining the ABV that he received back-to- back orders to units who deployed to Afghanistan.
The U.S. Marine Corps developed the ABV from a program that the U.S. Army cancelled years earlier called the “Grizzly.” The slightly smaller Marine version was specifically designed to breach minefields, IEDs and obstacles with a deliberate, in-stride breaching capability. The ABV allowed Marines to move rapidly through obstacles before the enemy have the full opportunity to mass fires, improve defenses and hide behind IEDs.
Weighing 70 tons, powered with a 1,500 horsepower engine, and traveling up to 45 mph, the ABV was built on the tracked chassis of a M1A1 Abrams Tank. It was equipped with a 15 foot wide mine-clearing plow, a .50 caliber machine gun and a device that fires up to two rocket-propelled nylon rope line charges each with 1,750lbs of C4 explosives. Each line charge has the capability to clear a 50 foot wide path more than 300 feet in length. The explosive overpressure caused by the detonation of the line charge is designed to detonate or disrupt many or all of the IEDs or mines in its path. The ABV provides crew protection and vehicle survivability while having the speed and mobility to keep pace with a maneuver force.
Like all military systems, the ABV was not without its flaws. The most common problem to the first series of the ABV was the inconsistent performance of its MK155 linear charge system, originally designed in the 1960s, to detonate as designed following its launch along the path of suspected IEDs and mines. When this occurred, one of the ABV crewman or another combat engineer is forced to leave their cover or concealment and manually detonate the line charge. During Mike’s second deployment to Afghanistan, he left the relative safety of his ABV numerous times during his assaults under heavy and accurate small arms fire in the Jusyalay Valley to detonate launched line charges that had failed to operate properly. On August 13, 2010, Mike fell to a sniper’s bullet from the Taliban who had undoubtedly seen his effectiveness and repeated courage under fire on the battlefield. For his heroic and life- saving actions, Mike was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
The ABV proved itself to be an effective tool in the fight to combat IEDs, the enemy’s primary casualty producing tactic in Afghanistan. However, what truly saved countless U.S. lives and limbs in Afghanistan were the brave Marines who led the ABVs into the most dangerous corners of the battlefield.
Staff Sergeant Mike Bock, the superb Marine leader born on September 11th 1983 who answered our Nation’s call to service following the attacks eighteen years later on 9/11. Mike was a devoted father to Alexzander and loving husband to Tiffany, as well as a caring brother and son. He epitomized the bravest of the brave. Rest in peace Mike.
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 8 Years
After completing his role in the Movie “Flag of Our Fathers” Mike first joined the Marine Corps’ ABV program in June of 2006. He was one of approximately 20 Marines that were initially trained to take the ABV through Field Users Test & Evaluation (FUT&E), and Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E). Upon the ABV's successful completion of these two significant milestones, Mike was ordered back to Fort Knox, Kentucky to participate in Instructor & Key Personnel Training (IKPT) to help validate the lesson plans for future ABV Crewman. Following the completion of IKPT, Mike was among the first four Marines to earn the coveted 1372 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of ABV Operator. Mike was in such high demand because he was so skilled at operating and maintaining the ABV that he received back-to- back orders to units who deployed to Afghanistan.
The U.S. Marine Corps developed the ABV from a program that the U.S. Army cancelled years earlier called the “Grizzly.” The slightly smaller Marine version was specifically designed to breach minefields, IEDs and obstacles with a deliberate, in-stride breaching capability. The ABV allowed Marines to move rapidly through obstacles before the enemy have the full opportunity to mass fires, improve defenses and hide behind IEDs.
Weighing 70 tons, powered with a 1,500 horsepower engine, and traveling up to 45 mph, the ABV was built on the tracked chassis of a M1A1 Abrams Tank. It was equipped with a 15 foot wide mine-clearing plow, a .50 caliber machine gun and a device that fires up to two rocket-propelled nylon rope line charges each with 1,750lbs of C4 explosives. Each line charge has the capability to clear a 50 foot wide path more than 300 feet in length. The explosive overpressure caused by the detonation of the line charge is designed to detonate or disrupt many or all of the IEDs or mines in its path. The ABV provides crew protection and vehicle survivability while having the speed and mobility to keep pace with a maneuver force.
Like all military systems, the ABV was not without its flaws. The most common problem to the first series of the ABV was the inconsistent performance of its MK155 linear charge system, originally designed in the 1960s, to detonate as designed following its launch along the path of suspected IEDs and mines. When this occurred, one of the ABV crewman or another combat engineer is forced to leave their cover or concealment and manually detonate the line charge. During Mike’s second deployment to Afghanistan, he left the relative safety of his ABV numerous times during his assaults under heavy and accurate small arms fire in the Jusyalay Valley to detonate launched line charges that had failed to operate properly. On August 13, 2010, Mike fell to a sniper’s bullet from the Taliban who had undoubtedly seen his effectiveness and repeated courage under fire on the battlefield. For his heroic and life- saving actions, Mike was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
The ABV proved itself to be an effective tool in the fight to combat IEDs, the enemy’s primary casualty producing tactic in Afghanistan. However, what truly saved countless U.S. lives and limbs in Afghanistan were the brave Marines who led the ABVs into the most dangerous corners of the battlefield.
Staff Sergeant Mike Bock, the superb Marine leader born on September 11th 1983 who answered our Nation’s call to service following the attacks eighteen years later on 9/11. Mike was a devoted father to Alexzander and loving husband to Tiffany, as well as a caring brother and son. He epitomized the bravest of the brave. Rest in peace Mike.
SSgt Michael A bock
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Born 9/11/83 KIA 8/13/10....Served 2 tours in Iraq and 2 tours in Afghanistan. 1 Humanitarian, Featured in the movie "Flag of our Fathers'. Part of the USMC team to develope the ABV for Afghanistan. Received the "Silver Star" from President Obama and the City of Leesburg dedicated 9/11 as Michael A bock Day because he is the highest decorated Marine as a resident of Leesburg,lake county and State of florida since the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan at the time of his death.
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Born 9/11/83 KIA 8/13/10....Served 2 tours in Iraq and 2 tours in Afghanistan. 1 Humanitarian, Featured in the movie "Flag of our Fathers'. Part of the USMC team to develope the ABV for Afghanistan. Received the "Silver Star" from President Obama and the City of Leesburg dedicated 9/11 as Michael A bock Day because he is the highest decorated Marine as a resident of Leesburg,lake county and State of florida since the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan at the time of his death.
Steve Grady
Class of 1982
Army, 20+ Years
Spent four years in the Marine Corps and then was selected for Army Flight Training. Qualified as a pilot in 5 helicopters and 3 ariplanes, also an Instructor Pilot. Served in Desert Storm as well as Iraq and Afghanistan in current war.
Class of 1982
Army, 20+ Years
Spent four years in the Marine Corps and then was selected for Army Flight Training. Qualified as a pilot in 5 helicopters and 3 ariplanes, also an Instructor Pilot. Served in Desert Storm as well as Iraq and Afghanistan in current war.
Steven Robert Ewing
Class of 1973
Navy, 12 Years
Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ)
USN/USNR 1973-1985
Served with RVAH-12, NAS Key West, VA-15, and VA 1074(Reserves). Deployed on USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga and USS Independence (twice)
Class of 1973
Navy, 12 Years
Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ)
USN/USNR 1973-1985
Served with RVAH-12, NAS Key West, VA-15, and VA 1074(Reserves). Deployed on USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga and USS Independence (twice)
strait joel
Class of 2000
Army, 9 Years
spent 5 yrs as a Marine, switched to Army for EOD
Class of 2000
Army, 9 Years
spent 5 yrs as a Marine, switched to Army for EOD
Tracy Taber (Keith)
Class of 1991
Army, 3 Years
Institute of Surgical Research for Burn Victims
Class of 1991
Army, 3 Years
Institute of Surgical Research for Burn Victims
Troy Wilson
Class of 1974
Army, 4 Years
Fire Control Crewman, Heavy Equipment Operator
Class of 1974
Army, 4 Years
Fire Control Crewman, Heavy Equipment Operator
William Ayers
Class of 1974
National Guard, 9 Years
Served Georgia National Guard Winder,Ga
Class of 1974
National Guard, 9 Years
Served Georgia National Guard Winder,Ga
William C. Brown, Jr.
Class of 1996
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Billy joined the Marine Corp Reserves and served proudly. Once his time was up, he joined the National Guard. Not soon after, he was deployed to Iraq for 13 months. He fought for our country overseas and did it proudly. Thank God Billy was one of the lucky one's who returned home safely, but some of his company members were not as lucky. We are forever grateful to our dear friend who is willing to fight for our continued freedom.
Class of 1996
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Billy joined the Marine Corp Reserves and served proudly. Once his time was up, he joined the National Guard. Not soon after, he was deployed to Iraq for 13 months. He fought for our country overseas and did it proudly. Thank God Billy was one of the lucky one's who returned home safely, but some of his company members were not as lucky. We are forever grateful to our dear friend who is willing to fight for our continued freedom.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Leesburg High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Yellow Jackets.
School News
2015 LHS Homecoming
Hello Alumni,
My name is Dr. Goff, as a part of SGA, we have made a bigger effort in having the Al...
Read More »
Our Leesburg High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Leesburg High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Leesburg are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!